New York Style Pizza and New York City

A recipe for New York Style Pizza inspired by our visit to New York City! A homemade pizza dough is topped with tomato sauce and plenty of shredded cheese.

I visited New York City for the first time last month with Chad to celebrate our anniversary. We have been married for seven years! We only had two days so I didn’t get to see everything on my list, but we still managed to fit in quite a lot.

Update: I have updated this post since its original publish date in April 2017 to include photos of our two more recent visits in 2018 and 2023. It now covers our time in Midtown East, Rockefeller Center, and Times Square.

Check out the rest of my NYC posts:

• Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies and New York City
• S’mores Macarons and New York City
• New York Style Bagels and New York City
• Xiao Long Bao (Chinese Soup Dumplings) and New York City
• Matcha Lava Cake and New York City
• Chocolate Hazelnut Babka and New York City
• Korean Corn Dog and New York City
• Black and White Cookies and New York City

New York City

We live outside of Washington, D.C., so it was an easy train ride to reach the city. Our train left Union Station at 5:25 in the morning and reached Penn Station at 8:45 am.

Midtown East

The Lexington New York City

We stayed at The Lexington New York City in Midtown East during our first visit. It is just north of the Chrysler Building and about a ten minute walk from Rockefeller Center.

We requested early check-in and a room on a higher floor and had no issues. Our room was on the 10th floor and fairly quiet.

It wasn’t a hotel for views (unless you count spying on the office across the street) and the room was quite small like many hotels in the area with the bed taking up most of the space, but overall we had a pleasant experience.

The hotel is styled as a tribute to the Jazz Age and they feature live jazz music every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday evening.

We stayed in a Queen Room. It was 180 square feet and included queen-size bed, desk, small marble-designed bathroom with shower/bath, flat screen HD Smart TV with streaming apps, blackout shades on the windows, hairdryer, and iron/ironing board (no microwave or mini fridge).

Remi43 Flower & Coffee

During our latest 2023 visit, I stopped by Remi43 Flower & Coffee one morning for a gorgeous Lavender Latte. They are open daily with a variety of specialty coffee, tea, pastries, and flowers.

The interior of the cafe is just as pretty as the drinks with an abundance of plants and flowers among the indoor and outdoor seating.

Rockefeller Center

Top of the Rock

After dropping our luggage off, we walked straight to Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock since we had tickets for 10:30 am.

My original plan was to go right before sunset, but the weather forecast called rain with overcast skies that day so I opted for the Sun and Stars package instead.

This way we were able to get photos of Manhattan during the day and return later that night to see the lights.

While deciding between the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock, I ultimately chose Top of the Rock for the great views of Central Park and the Empire State building itself.

The Sun & Stars package is an additional upgrade which allows you to visit once during the day and again after sunset. Tickets are provided with a timed entry. If you purchase an unscheduled ticket, then it must be exchanged at the Box Office for an available time slot before entry.

The main entrance is on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues. We took the second entrance on the Concourse level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

We went through the security checkpoint (no food or beverages are allowed) and walked through a room featuring a short history of the building and a photo op before being escorted to the elevators.

The elevators quickly took us to the first observation deck on the 67th floor. This observation deck is surrounded by glass, so we went straight to the stairs to reach the top deck on the 70th floor which offered incredible views of Central Park to the north and Midtown/Downtown Manhattan to the south without the glass enclosure (the top deck may be closed during inclement weather).

It was fairly overcast, but I was still able to see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.

We went back that night after dinner (didn’t need to go at a specific time after our first visit with the Sun and Stars package as long as it was within 24 hours) to get a different view with all the lights.

Rockefeller Center

After our visit to the Top of the Rock, we took a short walk to explore the rest of Rockefeller Center. I have now updated this section with photos from our more recent visits too!

Nintendo New York

Chad and the kids especially enjoyed Nintendo NY on the corner of W 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. The store is two levels and spans over 10,000 sq feet.

On the second floor, there are a few game systems to try out and various memorabilia.

The Lego Store

The Lego Store in Rockefeller Center is more busy (during peak times there may be a line to get in) than the one in the Flatiron District, but it is so fun with the abundance of unique and NYC-themed builds.

During our latest visit, there were quite a few Marvel displays.

American Girl Place New York

After visiting The LEGO Store for Evan, Claire wanted to see the American Girl Place.

She had so much fun looking through all the accessories and picked out a little snack-filled beach cooler with her birthday money.

Urban Hawker

Urban Hawker is just west of Rockefeller Center at 135 W 50th Street.

This food hall is open daily with vendors focusing on Singapore-style street food. There is indoor seating or options for ordering online for takeout via their website.

Kopifellas

Our first stop in Urban Hawker was Kopifellas. This modern Singaporean coffee shop features Nanyang Kopi (coffee), tea, and toast sets.

I ordered the Breakfast set (Kaya toast, soft boiled eggs, and teh) and Honey Lemon drink. Everything was perfect.

Mamak’s Corner

Mamak’s Corner focuses on Singapore Indian cuisine and is certified halal. Their menu has items like Nasi Biryani, different kinds of flatbreads, and curry.

We enjoyed the Roti Prata and Murtabak.

Lady Wong

Our last stop was Lady Wong for traditional kuih and pastry.

There were so many gorgeous options for these delicious cakes and we went with the Lapis Rainbow (rainbow steamed cake with coconut and pandan), Vietnamese Bánh da lợn (steamed layer cake), and Kuih Talam Pandan with Coconut Caramel.

Times Square

Times Square is a short 8 minute or so walk from Rockefeller Center.

Disney Store

A favorite spot for the kids in Times Square is the Disney Store at 1540 Broadway. This two level store is packed with all things Disney.

The area has been slightly chaotic during every visit, even at 9 pm, but the staff is still incredibly helpful and went out of their way to engage with the kids.

Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine

One night we had reservations for dinner at Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine and it was such a fantastic meal.

Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine at 371 W 46th Street is open for dinner Tuesday-Friday (at the time of this post) and brunch on weekends.

The menu features cocktails, mocktails, appetizers, entrees (with vegan options), sides, and desserts inspired by the islands throughout the Caribbean.

We loved the Scandal Rum Punch, Coco Breeze, Strawberry Basil Lemonade, Ackee & Saltfish (Jamaican dish prepared with salted codfish, ackee, onions, tomatoes, red bell pepper, and spices), Jazzy Pasta (penne pasta in creamy sauce with basil, peppers, carrots, and parmesan), Veggie Empanadas with Sweet Chili Sauce, Mac and Cheese, and Red Velvet Cake.

Joe’s Pizza

Joe’s Pizza was originally established in 1975 by Joe Pozzuoli in Greenwich Village. This Times Square location at 1435 Broadway stays busy, but service is quick.

Evan was especially excited to visit after seeing Joe’s Pizza in Spider-Man 2. Try to avoid peak times when the line can wrap around a couple of blocks.

Burgermania

We came across Burgermania at 274 W 40th Street one evening when the line of Joe’s Pizza was too long. It immediately became a favorite for Evan and we ended up going back twice.

This small shop is 100% halal certified and has smash burgers, chicken burgers, sliders, Nashville spicy hot tenders, wings, and fries.

New York Style Pizza

After trying the delicious cheese pizza at Joe’s Pizza, I wanted to try my best to recreate a New York Style Pizza and hold onto the memories at home.

I found inspiration for the dough and pizza sauce recipes from Serious Eats and adapted them a bit for my taste.

The dough does require an overnight rest in the refrigerator to help build the flavors and texture. It can be prepared up to 3 days in advance. The sauce can also be prepared a couple of days in advance and refrigerated until needed.

A Few Tips

This pizza dough recipe uses instant yeast mixed right into the flour. If using active dry yeast, it will need to be activated in about 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) lukewarm water (105-115˚F, 40-46˚C) before adding to the remaining ingredients. Then add cold water for the remaining 1 cup (240 milliliters).

Knead the dough until smooth and elastic. If still too crumbly to come together, slowly add a little more cold water. If too sticky, add just enough flour to handle. Take care not to add too much or the dough will become tough and difficult to roll.

I pureed the sauce using an immersion blender. Make sure to remove the basil stems first! If you don’t have one available, allow the sauce to cool and transfer to a stand blender or food processor to puree until smooth. 

I topped the New York Style Pizza simply with shredded, low-moisture mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmesan. Add additional items such as pepperoni as desired.

The amount of salt and sugar used in the sauce may vary based on the freshness/flavor of the tomatoes. Season to taste.

This New York Style Pizza is best warm from the oven. Leftover slices can be refrigerated in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

New York Style Pizza Recipe

Adapted from Serious Eats

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5 from 4 votes

New York Style Pizza

A recipe for New York Style Pizza inspired by our visit to New York City! A homemade pizza dough is topped with tomato sauce and plenty of shredded cheese.

Course Main

Cuisine Italian-American

Keyword cheese, New York City, pizza, tomato

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 12 hours hours

Total Time 13 hours hours 50 minutes minutes

Servings 2 pizzas

Ingredients

Pizza Dough:

• 3 1/2 cups (460 grams) bread flour
• 1 teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 1/2 tablespoons (19 grams) granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 1/4 cups (300 milliliters) cold water
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil

Pizza Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
• 1/2 onion peeled and diced
• 2 cloves garlic peeled and minced or grated
• 28 ounce (794 grams) can whole peeled tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 3/4-1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 2 sprigs fresh basil

Topping:

• Cornmeal for dusting
• 1 pound (450 grams) low moisture mozzarella freshly shredded
• 1 ounce (28 grams) Parmesan freshly grated

Instructions

To make the pizza:

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine the flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.
• Slowly add the cold water while mixing to bring together the dough, then mix in the olive oil.
• Knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• If too crumbly, add a little more water. If too wet and sticky to handle, add a little more flour just as needed.
• Transfer the dough to a large ziplock bag, press out the air, seal, and refrigerate overnight for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days.

To make the sauce:

• In a large saucepan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.
• Stir in the garlic and cook until just fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, oregano, salt, sugar, red pepper flakes, and basil.
• Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat to low, until barely simmering, and cook until reduced by half, about 60 minutes. Stir occasionally, pressing down on the tomatoes to break them apart.
• Remove from heat, discard the basil stems, and puree until smooth using an immersion blender.
• Adjust seasonings to taste and refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to use, up to two days.

Two hours before assembly:

• Remove the pizza dough from the refrigerator, divide in half, and form each into a smooth ball. Cover with plastic or a towel and allow to rest at room temperature until doubled, 1-2 hours.
• One hour before baking, place a pizza stone in the middle rack of the oven and preheat to 500˚F (260˚C).

To assemble:

• Dust a large baker's peel with cornmeal.
• On a lightly floured surface, press a ball of dough into a circle about 8 inches (20 centimeters) wide.
• Use your hands to gently stretch the dough until it is 1/4 inch (6 millimeters) thick and 12-14 inches (30-35 centimeters) wide with the edges slightly thicker. Place on the prepared baker's peel.
• Add a large spoonful of the prepared sauce to the center and spread it evenly across the pizza, leaving a 1/2 inch (1.25 centimeter) border around the edges. Add more sauce as needed to create a thin layer.
• Evenly sprinkle with a layer of shredded mozzarella and add a little Parmesan if desired.
• Carefully slide onto the hot pizza stone.
• Bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted, 8-10 minutes.
• Remove from the stone and repeat with remaining dough and toppings. Cut into slices and serve hot.